Marriott gift creates Meadows endowed professorship fund

SMU parents John W. Marriott III and his wife, Angela C. Marriott, as well as John’s father, J. Willard Marriott Jr., and his wife, Donna Garff Marriott, supported the gift, which was provided through the Marriott Fund of The Columbus Foundation in Columbus, Ohio.

The Marriott gift gives the Meadows School the flexibility to use the funds as needed in support of a professorship focused on any key academic area.

“We are deeply grateful to the Marriott family for their vision and generosity,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “This gift will enable Meadows School of the Arts to strengthen and broaden its academic offerings to prepare students for success in the arts. The gift supports a goal of SMU’s Second Century Campaign to endow 100 faculty positions and brings the current total to 85.”

“The Marriott Family Endowed Professor Fund gives Meadows School of the Arts the flexibility to identify and pursue a strategic priority in its curriculum,” said SMU Provost Paul Ludden. “It will help the school to meet changing needs for arts education and enable students to enhance their creative talents.”